Hemingway almost died in Africa

Hemingway had a near death experience in Africa that left him in pain for the remainder of most of his life. Anyone else notice that the old man has been to Africa(Page22) and he dreams about nothing but Africa(Page24). Seems significant to me, but what do you guys think about it?

I think the fact that he remembers Africa was really important, but I don't know where it says that he almost died there. To me it seems in the text that he really longs to go back to Africa and see "the long golden beaches and the white beaches, so white they hurt your eyes" (pg 24). It sounds like he has more fond memories of Africa rather than pain, but I could be wrong.

HannahW wrote:I think the fact that he remembers Africa was really important, but I don't know where it says that he almost died there. To me it seems in the text that he really longs to go back to Africa and see "the long golden beaches and the white beaches, so white they hurt your eyes" (pg 24). It sounds like he has more fond memories of Africa rather than pain, but I could be wrong.

It is not the old man who almost dies, but Hemingway himself gets in two plane crashes while in Africa. The crash left him in pain for a good portion of his life.